Shloka 226
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 132 — Vidura’s Counsel on Udyama, Yaśas, and Kṣātra-Dharma
राशिवर्धनमात्र स नैव स्त्री न पुन: पुमान् | जिसके महान् और अद्धुत पुरुषार्थ एवं चरित्रकी सब लोग चर्चा नहीं करते हैं
rāśivardhanamātraḥ sa naiva strī na punaḥ pumān |
Vāyu berkata: “Seseorang yang hanya menambah bilangan manusia, namun kebesaran daya upaya dan keluhuran wataknya tidak pernah disebut orang—bagiku ia hanyalah penambah angka. Dalam pandanganku, ia bukan sungguh-sungguh perempuan, dan bukan pula sungguh-sungguh laki-laki.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Human worth is measured by exemplary effort and character (puruṣārtha and cāritra), not merely by biological or social functions like producing descendants; a life without recognized virtue is portrayed as failing the ideals associated with being truly ‘man’ or ‘woman’ in a dharmic sense.
Vāyu delivers a sharp ethical judgment within the Udyoga Parva context, emphasizing that mere continuation of lineage is insufficient; what deserves remembrance and public praise is noble conduct and extraordinary endeavor.